Filligar

Filligar originated in Chicago during 2000, shaped by classic rock, blues, and American traditional rock. The Mathias brothers formed the group's family foundation—Pete on drums, Johnny covering guitars and vocals, and Teddy on bass—while longtime associate Casey Gibson added background vocals and keyboards. Still teenagers, they released three albums as Flipside before changing their name for the 2004 album Hoofbeats & Heat.

Their 2005 self-titled record Filligar delivered the band's first notable local radio exposure. Succession, I Guess followed in 2006 and reached a wider audience, enabling continued tours and recordings even while members pursued college. The City Tree appeared in 2007, earning airplay in markets nationwide and favorable comments from Chicago critic Jim DeRogatis. A track from Succession, I Guess was featured in an episode of The Real World, which led to additional television placements on other networks. The 2008 release Near or Far placed them on the College Music Journal charts, and they opened for the Black Keys the next year. The Nerve arrived in 2010 and triggered a headlining tour that included sold-out dates in New York and L.A.